Pro-gun rights supporters will descend on downtown Austin during the 2016 South by Southwest festival to celebrate the Lone Star State’s new Open Carry law, which was signed in June by Gov. Greg Abbott and implemented on January 1, 2016.
The armed march is being organized by non-profit Open Carry Texas, an affiliate of the group involved in passing the new open carry law, Come and Take It Texas. Founded by CJ Grisham, Open Carry Texas and other Second Amendment supporters will host a peaceful, armed march, as well as hand out educational literature regarding the new law.
The event will take place alongside President Obama’s highly publicized visit to Austin, during which he’s scheduled to kick off SXSW Interactive as part of Keynote Conversation about “civic engagement in the 21st Century,” touching on topics such as gun-control and climate change.
Obama’s priorities spark controversy
Obama’s SXSW visit is controversial for a number of reasons, including the fact that the president prioritized an opportunity to propagandize young liberals at a festival over Nancy Reagan’s funeral. He and First Lady Michelle also made waves when they skipped Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s funeral last month.
While Obama promotes further suppression of Constitutional rights, Open Carry Texas will foster a conversation nearby about individual civil liberties, demonstrating to festival goers that gun owners only differ in the fact that they refuse to be helpless victims during times of crisis.
Open Carry Texas is dedicated to educating all Texans about their right to self defense in a “safe and constitutional manner,” according to their Facebook page. They also work to ensure the public feels safe around law-abiding citizens that choose to carry firearms, while encouraging “elected officials to pass less restrictive gun legislation.”
Gun rights groups have exercised their inalienable rights during SXSW for the last three years, said Matthew Short, Public Relations Director for the gun advocacy group Don’t Comply. In December, the group hosted a mock shooting near the University of Texas campus aimed at illustrating the dangers of gun-free zones – the event received national media attention.
Festival goers enjoyed seeing Texans exercise their Second Amendment rights during past gun-rights events at SXSW, Short told the Austin Sentinel. “Even if Obama is against the rights of individuals, we [firearm advocates] have worked hard to define what those rights are here in the Texas capital.”
In 2014, more than 150 volunteers participated in armed marches during the festival. “Believe it or not, crime was down that year,” said Short. Statistics from the Austin Police Department show that property crime decreased 11 percent between 2013 and 2014, and in 2012, the city had the third-lowest violent crime rate in the nation.
“We invite all Americans to educate themselves on the very things that have made Texas, and America great!” Short added.
Opposition mounts
Anti-gun rights supporters have made their opposition to the march known on social media where they posted warnings about the festival’s “strict-weapons free policy,” which prohibits both open and concealed carry.
Businesses that wish for patrons to be disarmed are legally required to display 30.06 and 30.07 signs at each public entrance. However, this does not apply to public property including streets, explained Short.
Open Carry Texas’ first event is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. Central on March 11. Participants will meet at the south entrance to the Capitol. For more information you can visit their Facebook page here.
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